Star identifier and celestial calculator



arch 19, was.

F. H. HAGNER STAR IDENTIFIER AND CELESTIAL CALCULATOR Filed July 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I /0 3 rwem ton FFPEDER/ Ck H HA GNER March 19, 1946. HAGNER I 2,397,002

STAR IDENTIFIER AND CELESTIAL' CALCULATOR Filed July 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 19, 1946. I F, H. HLAGNER 2,397,002

STAR IDENTIFIERAND CELESTIAL CALCULATOR Filed July 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 19, 1946. F. H. HAGNER 2,397,002

STAR IDENTIFIER AND CELESTIAL CALCULATOR Filed July 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4/ awe/whom Patented Mar. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAR IBENTIFIER AND CELESTIAL CALCULATOR Frederick H. Hagner, San Antonio, Tex.

Application J-ul y 1944, Serial No. 543,515

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a star identifier and celestial calculator, and has for one of its objects the production of asimple and efficient chart for visibly displaying an approximate solution of various problems in celestial navigation which arise during a flight or cruise.

Another object of this invention is the production of a chart in the nature of a calculator which acts as a celestial encyclopedia to demonstrate problems in celestial navigation being, taught in the classroom, and to illustrate the movement of celestial bodies with reference to the world chart.

Otherobj'ects and advantages of this invention will appear throughout the. following specification and. claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one form of the device;

Figure 2 is a side edge elevational View thereof;

Figure 3 is a front view of one of the celestial discs used with referenceto' the northern hemisphere;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the companion celestial disc, used with reference to the southern hemisphere;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assembled device;

Figure 6 is a vertical central sectional view of the device, the discs and support therefor being drawn apart to illustrate their relative relationship;

Figure '7 is a plan view of the geographical chart showing one side which depicts the northern hemisphere;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the opposite side of the geographic chart upon which is depicted the southern hemisphere;

Figure 9 is a case or holder for use with a modified form of the device;

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the chart mounted in the holder or case;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line I l-H- of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a plan viewof one of the transparent horizon discs used upon the modified form;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the companion transparent horizon disc;

Figure 14 is a plan view of one of the transparent celestial disc's used with the modified form used for the northern hemisphere;

Figure 15 is a plan view of the companion transparent celestial disc used for the southern hemisphere;

Figure 16 is a plan view of one side of the geographic disc illustrating the northern hemisphere; and

Figure l? is a plan View of the reverse side of the geographic disc illustrating the southern hemisphere.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that Isdesignates a supporting panel which carries acentral transverse journal pi-n H. A geo graphical chart [2 is formed uponone side of the panel Hi near its upper end depicting the northern hemisphere and a chart i3 is formed upon the opposite side of the panel l0 depicting the south-- ern hemisphere. Each chart i2 and Hi has formed thereon concentric circular latitude lines l4, and radiating longitude lines [5 extending from the poles of the equator, as shown in Figures 7' and 8.

A transparent celestial chart preferably in the nature of av circular disc is journaled upon the journal pin H upon each side of thepanel i0, as shown. One transparent celestial chart [6 or disc, shown in detail in Figure 3, is superimposed over the geographical chart l2 depicting the northern hemisphere and has shown thereon navigational stars observable from the northernhemisphere as well as other data described in the following. The other transparent celestial chart or disc shown in detail in Figure 4 is superimposed. over the reverse chart l3 which depicts the southern hemisphere and this chart H- has shown thereon navigation stars observable from the southern hemisphere. Other information described as follows and shown in detail in Figure 4, is contained upon this disc.

An outer horizon transparent disc #8 is carried by the journal pin H upon one side of the panel l0 and is superimposedover the disc or chart l6, and an other outer horizon transparent disc is is journaled upon the pin II and is superimposed over the disc or chart I!- upon theing character or color are arranged below the equator line 2|. Straight lines 24 are extended transversely across the face of th disc ill from the bottom toward the top at ten degree intervals to designate altitude and to facilitate meas Similar lines prefer-1 ably colored red 23, or of a some other contrasturement of altitude. The disc I9 is similarly marked, except that the lines similar to the lines 22 above the equator are preferably colored red and the lines similar to the lines 23 below the equator are preferably colored blue, so that the color scheme of the lines will appear in staggered relation upon opposite sides of the calculator above and below the equator line, in the same manner as shown in the modified form-note Figures 12 and 13. A local time clock T is carried near the edge of the horizon disc l8 and a local time clock T is carried near the edge of the horizon disc 19, see Figure 1 and in detail Figures 12 and 13.

The transparent celestial disc I6 is provided.

with the conventional radiating sidereal hour angle lines 24 and the conventional declination lines 25. The ecliptic line 26is also shown thereon depicting the path of the sun in north declination as indicated in Figure 3. The navigational stars 21 visible from the northern hemisphere are also depicted in their proper relationship upon the transparent celestial disc 18 and this disc i6 is superimposed over the geographic disc l2 depicting the northern hemisphere. A star calendar S is carried by the celestial chart [6.

The transparent celestial disc I1 is located upon the, opposite side of the device and is superimposed upon the geographic chart 13 located upon the reverse side of the chart i2. This chart l3 depicts the southern hemisphere. The transparent celestial disc I1 is provided with radiating sidereal hour anglelines 2 and declination lines 29. The ecliptic line 30 is also shown thereon depicting the path of the sun, in south declination. Navigational stars 31 observable from a position on the southern hemisphere are also depicted in their proper relationship upon the transparent celestial disc |1-see Figureej A star calendars is carried by the celestial chart I I I It is optional when assembling the device whether th horizon discs i8 and H! are placed over the celestial discs l6 and IT, or vice versa, in View of the fact that these discs l6, l1', l8 and I3 are all transparent an'd are adapted to be placed in superimposed relationship, that is to say one celestial and one companion horizon disc is placed in superimposed relation upon the companion geographic chart on one side of the calculator. The other-celestialchart and its companion horizon discare superimposed upon the opposite geographic chart upon the opposite side of the calculator. One arrangement is illustrated in Figure 6.

If desired, the calculatorimay be formed of.

five discs shown in Figures to 1'7 inclusivefall rotatably mounted upon a suitable journal 32. A geographic disc 33 has a chart 34- of the northern hemisphere appearing-thereon upon one side, and a chart 35 of the southern hemisphere appearingthereon upon the opposite side thereof, as shown in Figures 16 and 1?. Finger tabs-'56 extend fromthe edge of-the disc 33 to facilitate the rotation of the disc upon thejourrial 32. transparent celestial disc 31 is superimposed upon the chart-34 and the transparent celestial disc 38 is superimposed upon the chart 35. The disc 31 and chart 34 have a transparent horizon disc 39 superimposed thereon, and a transparent horizondisc 40 is superimposed upon the disc 31 and chart 38 upon the opposite side of the disc 33 The relative superimposed position of the oclestialand horizon charts may be reversed whereby the celestial charts ar outside and the horizon charts are placed between the celestial charts and the geographic charts if desired, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. These celestial and horizon charts are transparent and the purpose of the invention is to permit the indicia' upon the geographic charts, the celestial and the horizon charts, to be visible to the eye of an observer so that the position of the navigation stars may be seen relative to the selected position upon the geographic chart at a selected time of the day and at a selected time of the year. This instrument demonstrates to the eye of a student or navigator the relative position of a selected observed celestial body to a selected position at a given time upon the geographic chart, or the earths surface. This is possible due to the superimposed position of the transparent celestial and horizon charts which are rotatably mountedthereon with respect to the geographic charts on opposite sides of the disc 33. Finger tabs 41 are provided at the edge of the discs 31 and 38 and are connected at their extremities to tie the discs 31 and 38 together and so that the tabs 36 will pass therebetween as the discs 31 and 33 are rotated to a selected position about the geographic chart disc 33.

The horizon discs 33 and 40 are provided with similar finger tabs 42 which are secured together at their extremities in a mannerto tie the opposite discs 39 and 40 together and also to permit the tabs of the adjoining discs to pass therebetween when the discs are rotated relative to one another. Any suitable means may be employed to secure the opposite discs together without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in Figures 9 to 11, a case 43 is provided having open ends 44 and 44 The front wall 4'5 is curved inwardly, as at 46, along its upper edge to provide a guiding edge to represent observers horizon, and the upper edge 48 of the rear wall 41 is curved upwardly to providea guiding edge for the opposite side when viewing the celestial disc for the south declination. The assembled discs 33, 31, 38, 39 and 40 constituting the calculator, are placed Within the upper open end of the case 43 so that selected horizon lines 22 and 23 may be selectively brought into, at least approximate registration with the edges 46 and 48 upon opposite sides of the device to facilitate the location of these horizon lines to the eye of the observer.

The case 43 is provided on its front wall with the inwardly curved edge and outward y curved edge 48 the edges 45 and 48% preferably being of a difierent are from the edges 46 and 48.

It should be understood that the horizon charts.

The geographic charts l2 and I3, as well as the celestial charts l6 and Has illustrated, are azimuthal equidistant projections, but a polarprojection geographic chart and polar celestial chart,

may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The celestial discs l6 and llmay be keyed together on a rotating journal H and the journal pin H may be rotatably mounted through the journal i l and this pin I I may be locked in engagement with the horizon discs l8 and l 9, thereby tying the horizon discs l8 and 19 together so that they may rotate in unison The discslfi and ll are looked upon the journal H so that they may be rotated together freely upon the panel It. Finger tab l8 protrude from the edges of the horizon discs I8 and If! to facilitate the rotation of these discs, and finger tabs ifi protrude from the edges of the discs I6 and I1. As previously described, the discs l8 and I9 may be tied together by securing the tabs together or by tying them together through a central journal. The celestial discs l6 and I! may be tied together by joining the tabs as shown in Figure 11, or they may be locked together by means of a journal II above described.

The horizon lines on the horizon discs l8 and 19 are arranged in the manner as illustrated in the form shown in Figures 12 and 13, and the time clocks on these horizon discs T and T are similarly arranged to that as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

Example of operation:

Take celestial chart in one hand (north declination), face north, place center pole in line with north star. Next rotate chart until the Big Dipper star designation on the chart matches with Big Dipper in the sky, then all other stars will be matched over the respective navigation stars in the heavens which are designated by location and name upon the chart. The radiating hour angle lines are indicating means to assist observer in pointing to and locating selected stars. The chart is then oriented as the heavens are seen from that location at that particular time and date. Now place celestial chart over geographical chart so that the zenith point (the point overhead) in the heavens is superimposed over the geographic location of the observer; for instance, Washington, D. C., on the geographic chart will appear approximately under the navigational star Vega at approximately July 1 at 12 oclock midnight. The meridian line on the horizon chart intersects or overlies this star and Washingtons location.

Since the North Star is about 40 above the horizon at Washington, and on that time and date Vega is on the observers meridian, Vegas declination being approximately the same declination as the latitude of Washington, the altitude of Vega at that time would be 90 and at its zenith position in the heavens. The time, date and month are indicated with this setting. The calendar on the celestial chart and the time clock on the horizon chart which carries the observers meridian line are brought into registration by rotating the celestial chart upon the geographical chart and horizon charts to indicate July 1 at 12 oclock midnight. The date and time is matched by the observers meridian line on the horizon chart intersecting the hour 12 midnight and the date July 1.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a star identifier and celestial calculator having horizon lines formed thereon, a case for receiving said calculator, and said case having a sighting edge adapted to be brought into approximate registration with the horizon lines formed on the calculator to assist an observer in readily locating the selected horizon line on said calculator.

2. In combination with a star identifier and celestial calculator having horizon lines formed thereon, a case for receiving said calculator, said case having sighting edges adapted to be brought into approximate registration with the horizon lines formed on the calculator to assist an observer in readily locating the selected horizon line on said calculator, said calculator having horizon lines on opposite sides thereof, the calculator having an equator line, one sighting edge being curved upwardly for matching the horizon lines above the equator line on one side of the calculator, and the other sighting edge being curved downwardly for matching the horizon lines below the equator on the opposite side of the calculator.

3. In combination with a star identifier and celestial calculator having horizon lines formed thereon, and a sighting gauge fitting over the calculator and selectively registering with the horizon lines for clearly indicating the selected horizon line to an observer.

4. In combination with a terrestrial and trans parent celestial chart mounted in superimposed relation, an altitude indicating means, and a guide movable over the said charts to indicate the position of the observers horizon for a given latitud relative to said charts.

FREDERICK H. HAGNER. 

